Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 71 (Friday, April 12, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14845-14847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1236; Product Identifier 2017-SW-136-AD; Amendment 
39-19613; AD 2019-07-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson Helicopter) Model R66 
helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the oil tank outlet's fitting 
color. If the fitting is blue, this AD requires replacing the tank with 
an oil tank that lacks a blue fitting. This AD also requires 
determining the revision letter on the ink stamp, and installing an oil 
tank angle based on that determination. This AD was prompted by reports 
of broken oil tank internal baffles. The actions of this AD are 
intended to correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 17, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 17, 2019.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 
90505; telephone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm. You may review a copy of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1236.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1236; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, the 
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for the Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California

[[Page 14846]]

90712; telephone (562) 627-5247; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On September 21, 2018, at 83 FR 47848, the Federal Register 
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Robinson 
Helicopter Model R66 helicopters, serial numbers 0003 through 0789, 
0791, 0794 and 0796. The NPRM proposed to require, within 100 hours 
time-in-service (TIS), inspecting the oil tank outlet fitting color and 
replacing the tank before further flight if the fitting is blue. The 
NPRM also proposed to require determining the revision letter of the 
G689-1 oil tank assembly identification ink stamp and then installing 
G805-1 angle if the identification ink stamp is followed by revision 
letter F, G, H, or I, or by revision letter J with no yellow dot near 
the ink stamp. For revision letter J, a yellow dot indicates that the 
angle has been pre-installed and that no further action would be 
necessary. If the identification ink stamp is followed by a revision 
letter K, the NPRM proposed no further action would be necessary.
    The NPRM was prompted by report of broken oil tank internal baffles 
caused by vibration. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent 
a broken baffle inside an oil tank, which could result in loss of oil 
pressure and oil flow to the engine, leading to engine failure and 
subsequent forced landing of the helicopter.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an 
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Robinson Helicopter R66 Service Bulletin SB-21A, 
Revision A, dated June 6, 2017, which specifies installing an angle in 
the tank outlet to prevent a failed baffle from blocking the outlet.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information specifies performing the corrective actions 
within the next 100 hours TIS or by July 31, 2017, whichever comes 
first. This AD requires the actions within 100 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 265 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Labor costs average $85 a work-hour.
    The cost for identifying the oil tank assembly identification ink 
stamp and outlet fitting color is minimal. Inserting a G805-1 angle 
requires about 1 work-hour and parts cost about $17 for an estimated 
cost of $102 per helicopter.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, 
on the relationship between the national government and the States, or 
on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various 
levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13   [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2019-07-02 Robinson Helicopter Company: Amendment 39-19613; Docket 
No. FAA-2017-1236; Product Identifier 2017-SW-136-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 
helicopters, serial numbers 0003 through 0789, 0791, 0794 and 0796, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as broken baffle inside an 
oil tank. This condition could result in loss of oil pressure and 
oil flow to the engine, leading to engine failure and subsequent 
forced landing of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 17, 2019.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Visually inspect the oil tank outlet fitting color to 
determine if it is blue. If the fitting is blue, before further 
flight, replace the tank with an oil tank that does not have a blue 
fitting.
    (2) Locate the G689-1 oil tank assembly identification ink stamp 
on the top surface of the oil tank, and determine the revision 
letter.
    (i) If the identification ink stamp is followed by a revision 
letter F, G, H, or I unless previously installed, install a G805-1 
angle as follows:

[[Page 14847]]

    (A) Drain the engine oil and disconnect the F723-1 line assembly 
from the tank fitting at the firewall, using as reference Figure 1 
of Robinson Helicopter Company R66 Service Bulletin SB-21A, Revision 
A, dated June 6, 2017.
    (B) Pinch the flanges of G805-1 angle at the minimum required to 
enable insertion, and insert the angle in the oil tank outlet 
fitting until the angle snaps in place.
    (C) Connect the F723-1 line assembly to the tank fitting. 
Special torque nut to 675 in.-lb. Torque stripe the fitting.
    (ii) If the identification ink stamp is followed by a revision 
letter J, determine if there is a yellow dot near the ink stamp. A 
yellow dot indicates that the angle has been pre-installed and that 
no further action is required by this AD. If there is not a yellow 
dot near the ink stamp, install a G805-1 angle by following the 
procedures in paragraphs (e)(2)(i)(A) through (e)(2)(i)(C) of this 
AD.
    (iii) If the identification ink stamp is followed by a revision 
letter K, no further action is required by this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; 
telephone (562) 627-5247; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7910, Engine Oil 
Storage (Airframe Furnished).

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Robinson Helicopter Company R66 Service Bulletin SB-21A, 
Revision A, dated June 6, 2017.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Robinson Helicopter Company service information 
identified in this AD, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 
Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; telephone (310) 539-0508; fax 
(310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 26, 2019.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-07177 Filed 4-11-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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